Gadkari's green highway plan may hit roadblock

Newly appointed surface transport and rural development minister Nitin
Gadkari has drafted an ambitious green plan to plant 200 crore saplings
on national highways across the country. Gadkari has been credited with
the construction of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and 55 flyovers in
Mumbai. Prima facie, the plan may not take off owing to lack of will at
grassroot level and an acute shortage of saplings.

| TNN | Jun 16, 2014, 12.15 AM IST

Newly appointed surface transport and rural development minister Nitin Gadkari has drafted an ambitious green plan to plant 200 crore saplings on national highways across the country. Gadkari has been credited with the construction of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and 55 flyovers in Mumbai. Prima facie, the plan may not take off owing to lack of will at grassroot level and an acute shortage of saplings. Nearer home, state forest minister Patangrao Kadam too had drafted an identical plan four years ago to plant 100 crore saplings across Maharashtra. Kadam had set up a high-level committee, headed by then chief secretary Ratnakar Gaikwad. Besides department secretaries, collectors, chief executive officers of zilla parishad, vice-chancellors of agriculture and non-agriculture universities, heads of educational institutions too were involved in the plan. Every district was given a specific target and leading industrial houses and private organizations too were asked to participate and ensure implementation in a time-bound period. But after a dismal performance in the first year, the target was revised from 100 crore to 50 crore saplings, which too was reduced to 25 crore. However, the nodal department failed to achieve even the 25 crore saplings' target. The authorities kept reducing the target every year, till it reached a few lakhs. But even with this reduced target, the forest department is yet to come out on the status report of drive. A former chief secretary said the drive failed to take off owing to unrealistic target.

Guv gives in to CM pressure

A week ago, when CM Prithviraj Chavan knocked at the doors of Raj Bhavan for approval of nominations for the legislative council, it was expected that governor K Sankaranarayanan, who has projected himself as an administrator par excellence, will direct review of the list as the nominated persons, barring a few, are all leading politicians. But it seems the governor this time succumbed to the CM's pressure. The Constitution provides for nomination of eminent apolitical persons to the legislative council and Rajya Sabha. The provision has been made to facilitate nomination of eminent persons who can't enter electoral politics to the council and Rajya Sabhha, so that the nation can benefit from their knowledge and expertise. For instance, a year ago, the President had appointed cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar and actress Rekha to the Rajya Sabha. But on the CM's list were Congress and NCP leaders nominated in the social service category. A politician who was defeated by a huge margin in the recent Lok Sabha too figured on the nominations list for the council. It is being said that the nomination might be a reward for the politician defecting from Shiv Sena to NCP.

It was being believed that the governor would not approve the nominations and ask Chavan to take a fresh look at it or demand a few changes. But contrary to the expectations, the governor approved the entire list in toto. In the past, there have been instances when Sankaranarayanan's predecessors had returned proposals for reconsideration of the CM or cabinet.

Car rates remain on paper

The cash-starved Prithviraj Chavan government has drafted a plan to mobilize resources. A week ago, the finance department, led by NCP leader Ajit Pawar, enhanced the rates for private use of government vehicles by bureaucrats. The rates have been revised after over a decade. So far, bureaucrats had to pay Rs 8/km to use government vehicles for personal reasons, with the maximum limit being 700km. Now the rate has been revised to Rs12/km and if the officers want to use the vehicle beyond 700km, then s/he will have to shell out Rs18/km. But information sought through an RTI query resulted in no details being available on bills paid by bureaucrats for using government vehicles for private purposes. Hence, it seems the revised rate order will stay on paper. It is known that most cabinet members have more than three vehicles—one for the member, second for the family and the third for guests, but bureaucrats too have equal cars at their disposal. If a senior Congress cabinet member is to be believed, then, barring a few, most bureaucrats have a minimum of three government vehicles. It is now up to chief secretary J S Saharia to conduct a check of vehicles at the disposal of his colleagues instead of issuing circulars that can never be implemented.

RELATED

From around the web

More from The Times of India

Recommended By Colombia

From Around the Web

More From The Times of India

Recommended By Colombia

Comments

Characters Remaining: 3000

OR PROCEED WITHOUT REGISTRATION

Share on Twitter

SIGN IN WITH

FacebookGoogleEmail

Refrain from posting comments that are obscene, defamatory or inflammatory, and do not indulge in personal attacks, name calling or inciting hatred against any community. Help us delete comments that do not follow these guidelines by marking them offensive. Let's work together to keep the conversation civil.

Read more

Most Popular

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi today targeted the BJP-led government at the Centre over the price-rise issue, raising questions over why the rates of essential commodities were skyrocketing at a time when international oil prices have hit record lows.

The overnight seizure of a luxury hotel in Burkina Faso's capital by al-Qaida-linked extremists ended when Burkina Faso and French security forces killed four jihadist attackers and freed more than 126 people, the West African nation's president said.